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l April 2, 1929.

O. D. NORTH MULTIPLE WHEEL DRIVE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 30, '1927 2f Sheets-Sheet l A INVEHTOQ cuves? DnNsoN NomH DEQ f da ATTORNEYS.

pril 2, 1929. Q, D, NQRTH 1,707,535

MULTIPLE WHEEL DRIVE FOR VEHICLES INVENTOQ OLNEQ Dawson Nom-H PER-'@WV v ATTORNEYS Cil Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,707,535 PATENT OFFICE.-

OLIVER DANSON NORTHyOF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SCAMMELL LORRIES LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MULi'lPLE-WHEEL DRIVE FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed June 3),

'This invent-ion relates to motor vehicles having multiple driving wheels and comprises an arrangement et driving mechanism by -which more than the usual two driving wheels are arranged in a unit so that the driving` eiiort is distributed between them. The wheels are mounted at the ends ot balance arms which constitute enclosing` and supporting casings for the distributing gear. The balance arms are supported so as to be able to oscillate about the ends olI an axle casing connected to the vehicle frame by suitable springs. Power transmitted to axles within the easing through the usual driving mechanism. rlie balance arms are provided with secondary bearings engaging le axle casing a considerable distance from its ends and connected to the balance arms by inwardly extending webs. Rrakes are provid l which act en cach ot the driving 'heels and are operated through the me* isverse members connected at one end to mechanism mounted on the axle casing near its centre and at the other end to mechanism mounted on the balance arms, these transverse members being kept close to the axle casing and approximately parallel with the axis thereof. By this means, the oscillating movement of the balance arms about the axle casing does not materially affect the operation of the brakes.

. i embmliment ot my invention will now be illustrated in the accou'ipanying in which show it applied to a uiotorfhassis and in which g. is a side elevation oli a motor vehicle chess s provided lwith multi-wheel driving i according to my invention and use as a motor-bus chassis.

2 is a plan thereof', and

Fig. 3 is a` half pian ot the driving mechanism partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, the eiiassis comprises a pair of longitudinal frame niemers 1 connected by front transverse memer 2, a pair et X-shapcd cross men'ibers 8 other transverse bars l and 5 between the extending rear 1 of the frame members. At the front of the chassis is 'upported the power unit 6, its front end fng secured to the cross member 2 whilst rear end is held at two points 7 thus orming a tlnee-point method of suspension. fi short clutch shaft 8 transmits the power through flexible joints 9 to a gear box 10.

1927. Serial No. 202,769.

This is mounted at its trent end upon a transverse member 11 and is provided with an extended main shaft bearing 12 at its rear end which is supported in a light transverse support 14C. From the main shaft of the gear box the power is transmitted through a propeller shaft 15 having vflexible or universal connections 16 at its two ends. The rear end of the propeller shaft 15 is connected to the usual driving mechanism within an axle housing 17, the outwardly extending ends 18 ot which support balance arms 19 in the ends otV which supported the driving wheels 20.

Each balance arm 19 comprises a centre section 21 having a bearing 22 which engages around the outer end et the extension 1.8 of the axle housing 17. A second bearing 23 engages the extension 18 of the axle heus ing 17 at a considerable distance from the balance arm 19 and in towards the middle of the axle housing 17. This bearing` 23 is connected to the centre section 2 1 ot the balance arm 1 9 by means oit inwardly extending webs 24.

The axle housing 17 is here shown of the banjo type having the centre drum-shaped portion 25 and the extensions or sleeves 18 formed in one piece. lVithin the centre drum-shaped portion 25 of the axle easing 17 is provided the usual form of driving mechanism comprisingv a dii'lierential driving gear QG which engages the inner ends of a pair et u ing axles 2'? and also carries a crown bevel wheel 2li. To the iront oi' the drum-shaped portion 25 of the axle housing 1'?" is f feured a cover plate Q9 supporting a bearing sleeve 8() for the bevel pinion 31 whose short shaft 3:2 is coupled tothe propeller shaft 15 by the universal joint 16 already referred to.

The two driving axles 27 project from the ends 18 ot the axle housing into the centre section 21 ot the balance arms 19 and support the main distributing toothed pinions An anti-friction bearing 34 supports the end et the driving axle in the outer face of the centre section 21. Each main distributing pinion 38 gears with a pair of intermediate toothed wheels 35 mounted on stationary axle pins 36 arranged respectively in front and behind the driving axle 27.

The front and rear ends of the centre section 21 et the balance arms are provided with flanges 37 by means of which end sections 38 having` similar flanges 39 are bolted theretoa In these end sections are provided anti-friction liiearings Zl() and il tor the Wheel axles 42. The wheel hubs i3 are mounted directly upon the outer ends of the Wheel axles 42 Whilst the portion of the Wheel aide 42 within the end sections of the balance arm easing supports a toothed gear ifi- Whieh `gears with the intermediate gear wheel 35. By this means rotation of the driving' aI-des 27 will be transmitted through the main distributing pinions 33 and 'the intermediae freer wheels S55 to the tootheifl Wheels lll-i im'iunted dh" i on the Wheel axles se 'that 'lirioaver 'will be transmitted to all the driving- Wheels i2() moiuited i* the ends oi the balance arms 19. Jill iour oit the driving wheels E() will thus take their part in driving` the vehicle as well as in supporti the load7 Whilst the balance arms may osrdlate about the main anic easing so as to permit these wheels to readily aecomiuodale themselves to irregularities in the sur'lace over which the vehicle is being' driven.

The chassis frame members l are supported on the main axle casi ng 17 by springs 43:5 Whose endsl are connected to the frame members l, Whilst their icentres are secured to springl pads di mounted upon the extending@ sleeve members 18 oi' the aide 17 between the bearings 22 and 23 of the centre section 2]. of the balance arms. l

Each of the driving; .vheels 2() is pro vided with a brake drum Il? Within which are mounted suitable brake shoes adapted to be engaged therewith by cams 48 adapted to be actuated by brake cani shaft levers: 49. From these brake cam shaft levers 419 pull rflids 50 extend to levers 5l on the upper end of short shaits" 52 joui-nailed in bearings in the rentre section 2l of the balance arms 19. Ou the oil er end oi' these shafts 52 are provided levers 53 extending toward the main axle asino 17. Transverse pull rods or cables 541: extend 'from these levers to bell crank levers mounted on the axle easing); 17 near the centre thereof. The ,pull ro. cables 5d: ot 'che liront wheels ou oppr sides et the vehicle are cmuiected to opposite ends oit' a double-emicd lever mounted on a vertical sh Ylt 5G journalled in a bearing supported by the main aide housing; 17. This shaft' 5G may be rotated by a lever 57 adapted to be operated by a main pull rod 58 extending to suitable brake operating' mechanism such as a hand lgn'ale lever, and may be actuated either direct or through suitable servo brake mechanism i. e. mechanism constructed to utilize the rotation of the road Wheels or otherI source of power to applythe b altes under the control undue muscular effort. Iihe tivo rear Wheel brakes are connected by their pull rods or `cables 54rto a double-ended lever 55 mounted on a shaft 56 and having an operatinglever 5? adapted to be actuated by a pull rod 59 which extends to suitable brake operating mechanism such as a toot brake pedal either -irect er through suitable servo brake mechanism.

Multiple Wheel driving; mechanism for motor vehicles :recording to this invention permits the tractive eiiort oi" the jioiver unit to be distributed to a greater number of driving.;` vdieels than normal, thus obtaining.;` better roi'id adhesion. This will enable heavy loads to be effectively sul'iperted Whilst keeping down the load per wheel, and enabling an effective drive to be obtained with very heavy loads and over coinparatively unsuitable ground. The arrangement oi2 the `driving; Wheels upon balance e adapted to oscillate about the main driving; axle permits the driving Wheels. to move freely so as to accommodate thainselves` to irregular road surfaces, Whilst continuing to transmit the drive.` Any upward movement caused by a wheel mounting; over an obstacle will cause the balance arm to turn about the main driving1 axle, Whilst the aide oi' the other wheel will act as a ulcrun'i fior the balance arm. ln this manner the c placement of the main driving axle caused by any road obstruction will be greatly reduced compared with the movement which 'rvoui d be caused if the Wheel 1vere mounted directly on the driving axle. It is therefore pe. sible to4 obtain. greatly enhanced spriiurier;l and insulation from road shocks in a vehicle provided With driving; inecl f iisin according te this invention. The arra gement et brakes in all the driving' Wheels also enables a very strong lui'akingr etici-t to be exerted when desired.

l chum:-

n a multiple Wheel driving mechanisn'i, a main axle ior vehicle housing', bahrnce :iu-ins in the torni of Lgear casings journalled Yen the ends of said axle housing and having` inner extended bearings on said aide housing' and inwardly extendingv Webs for conneeting1 said extended bearings to said balance arms, driving axles journalled in said axle housing and in said .bal-ance arms, trains of meshing` toothed Wheels enclosed Within said balance arms for driving said road wheels from said driving axles and spring' pads mounted on said main axle housing,- between said inner extended bearings and said balance arms.

lOLIVER DANSON NQRTH. 

